Hinge



'May 14, 1940. s. B. A'rwoon 2,200,252

HINGE Filed July 50, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l 'May 14, 1940. s. B. A'rwooD HINGE l Filed July 30, 193'7 2 Sheets-Shet 2 J5 16 1J ze Patented'May 14, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 15 Claims.

simpler and more economical construction and one which at the same time is stronger and more rigid, as well as easy to install.

In the carrying out of this object, I aim to provide portions' of the socket for the ball head and the recess forthe gooseneck shank as integrally formed parts of, or reenforcements in, the door pillar and door frame, respectively, atthe same time arranging the parts so that the companion socket part to retain the ball head and the clamp part to fasten the gooseneck shank have their fastening bolts easily accessible for tightening.

Another object is to provide a ball and socket hinge construction wherein the socket parts and clamp parts are arranged to be resiliently drawn together by the tightening of bolts so that the ball head has a close working fit in the socket and so that the gooseneck shank is clamped tightly, the bolts or nuts in both instances having lockingplates in conjunction therewith with lugs bendable into and but of holding position to permit locking the parts in adjusted condition and subsequently unlocking, retightening and relooking the bolts.A

These and other objects of the invention will appear in the course of the following detailed description in which reference is made to the ac- Fig. 6 is a sectional detail on the line 6-6 of t Fig. 5;

Figs, 7, 8, and 9 arestill further horizontal sections similar to Fig. 1, showing structions:

Fig. 7a is an elevational detail of a portion vof Fig. 7, and

Fig. l is a sectional detail on the line IU-lll 5 of Fig. 9, showing the locking plate, which is similar to the locking plates appearing in Figs. 1 and 2.

Similar reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views.

Referring at first to Figs. 1 and 2, Il designates the body pillar land I2 the door frame or door, but it will soon be evident that it is immaterial Whether the socket member I3 and gooseneck member I4 of my improved ball-and-socket hinge 15 are on the pillar and door, respectively, or vice versa. The gooseneck member I4 is preferably s formed in one piece to provide a generally L- shaped shank I5 terminating in a ball head I6 formed as an integral enlargement of one end thereof. The other end I'l is cylindrical and knurled in accordance with the disclosure in my copending application Serial No. 135,068, filed April 5, 1937, to facilitate clamping this shank portion of the gooseneck member to the door. In keeping with the spirit of my present invention, the pillar I i has the outer wall I8 of its' sheet metal inner member I9 formed between dies to provide part of the socket I3. Thus a portion of this wall I8 is struck outwardly toward the 30 sheet metal covering 28 to provide a substantially semi-spherical recess or depression 2l on the inside thereof. Another portion 22 of the outer wall i8 is struck outwardly to provide a half round channel or depression 23 extending radially from 35 the center of the depression 2l and substantially at right angles to the side wall 24 ofthe pillar member i9, in registration with a horizontal slot 25 provided therein to afford working clearance for the gooseneck member I4. A stamped sheet o metal 4plate 26 forms the other half of the socket I3 and has a spheroidal depression 21 to register with the semi-spherical depression 2l, as well as a slot 28 in register with the half round depresother consion 23. The inner side of the spheroidal deg ber. I4 through approximately 90 from the position shown in Fig. 1. A locking plate 33 with bendable lugs 34 thereon has holes therein to register with the bolt holes in the plate 26 and wall I8, and, when the bolts 3l are tightened, certain of these lugs 34 are bent outwardly alongside the bolt heads to lock the bolts in adjusted position. The plate 26, it should be noticed, is spaced from the wall I8 although fastened thereto by the bolts 3|. 'I'hat permits varying the frictional resistance to turning of the ball head I6 in the socket I3. The socket halves which are ordinary sheet metal stampings soon are worked to a nice tit on the ball head under the pressure and thereafter there is very little wear. The inherent resilience of the sheet metal is enough to maintain a good working t after the parts have worn to the desired iit, so that no play and consequent rattling develops. The hinge works smoothly, freely, and quietly. It is to be noticed that the thin sheet metal covering wall 20 has a slight outward bulge 35 to cover the socket I3 and nuts 32. A corresponding bulge will be provided on the outside of the door to match, and these bulges may either taper off to merge with the outside of the body or may be continued around the body to form a sort of ornamental beading, depending, of course, upon the design and what gives the best appearance in a given case. The point is that by locating the socket I3 with its center almost in the same plane as the outside of the body, the hinges have ample throw so that the door has adequate clearance between the inner edge thereof and the outside of the body in opening and closing.

In further accordance with the spirit lof the present invention, the door I2 has a sheet metal member 36 therein formed to provide a recess 31 in which to anchor the knurled shank I1 of the gooseneck `member I4. A U-shaped clamp 38 surrounds the rest of the knurled shank and has outwardly bent ends 39 which are pierced, swedged and tapped, as at 4Il, to receive bolts 4I entered through holes 42 in the member 36 next to the clamping recess 31, whereby to force the parts together and clamp the shank I1 securely therebetween. The locking plate 43 with its bendable lugs 44 is interposed under the heads of the bolts 4I similarly as the plate 33 is inserted under the heads of the bolts 3l, and the lugs 44 when bent outwardly against the heads of the bolts 4I serve to lock the same securely in adjusted position.

Fig. 3 shows a somewhat similar construction wherein the sheet metal member 3E' is formed with the depression 31 on its outer side instead of its inner side and with holes 40' pierced, swedged, and tapped to take the bolts 4I provided in connection with the clamp 38'.

It should be clear from the above description that I have provided a concealed ball-and-socket hinge for the doors of motor vehicles of extremely practical and commercially feasible design and construction, inasmuch as it can be produced at a low enough cost to be competitive with the old style pintle hinges and its design is such that it lends itself for easy assembling on the doors and pillars of motor cars as now constructed. The members I9 and 36, or 36', will have the walls thereof formed as above described, and the cooperating socket part and clamp part will be furnished by the hinge manufacturer along with the gooseneck member for assembly on the car in the assembly line. Obviously since so much of the hinge structure can be formed directly in the body pillar and door frame, an appreciable saving in cost will be realized, and in addition there is greater assurance of close uniformity in quantity production and also much greater assurance of strength and rigidity in the hinges, inasmuch as the door load is assumed mainly by integral portions on the body pillar and door frame, instead of on members riveted or otherwise suitably secured thereto. With such a construction it fol lows, too, that less time should be consumed in centering and lining up the doors with one another and with the body, because the chances of run out" are considerably reduced by integrally forming portions of the hinge structure on the body and doors. That is to say, since the socket depression 2| in the pillar and the gooseneck shank depression 31 in the door are provided by integrally formed portions on the body and door at the same elevations, the hinges are thereby accurately located with both the body and door, and it should not require much adjustment of the door in the opening in the body to get it properly centered and lined up. Two hinges of the kind described will be provided on each door in vertically spaced relation, it being obvious that the two points thus fixed by the balls and sockets are sufficient to determine the hinge axis of the door and provide for smooth and uniform operation throughout the range of opening movement. Hinges of the present construction will not bind nor develop play and give rise to door rattling like the old style pintle hinges. The bolts 3| will be adjusted at the factory so as to allow for fairly easy operation of the door, and then later when the car has been in service for some time, if the hinges should show signs of wear, the bolts 3l can be taken up and locked again in their new adjustment after which it is unlikely that they will ever require further attention throughout the life of the car. Ordinarily the bolts 3l will not require attention after the car has left the factory, but there again if the door sags, or for any reason requires realignment, the bolts 3i can be loosened to permit re-alignment and then tightened again and locked to keep them in adjusted condition.

Fig. 4 shows a sheet metal pillar member I9a with a transverse sheet metal reenforcement 45 welded or otherwise suitably secured therein formed between dies to provide part of the socket I3a. 'Ihe gooseneck member I4 projects through the slot 25a in the pillar member and has the ball head I6 fitting in the depression 2 Ia formed in the reenforcement 45, while the adjacent end of the shank is received in a channel 23a formed in the reenforcement next to the socket depression. The plate 26a is similar to the plate 26, previously described, having a spheroidabshaped portion 21a to engage the ball head from the opposite side and retain it in the socket I3a when the plate 26a is fastened in place as by bolts 3Ia entered through the plate 26a and reenforcement 45 and threaded in nuts 32a. The knurled end I1 of the gooseneck shank can be fastened to the door as in Figs. 2 or 3, or in any other suitable or preferred manner. The operation and advantages of this hinge are substantially the same as with the hinge previously described.

Figs. 5 and 6 show still another construction in which the sheet metal pillar member |91) is channel-shaped in cross-section and has slots 25h in both walls through which the gooseneck member I4 extends, the inner wall of the member ISb being formed as shown at 2lb to provide part of the socket I3b for the ball head I6.

this construction, a plate .28h has a' substantially semi-spherical depression 2lb formed therein. to engage the ball head I8 from the opposite side to retain it in place in the socket l3b when the bolts 3Ib passed through holes in the inner wall of the member I9b and threaded in the holes 4'6 in the plate 2Gb are tightened. AV channel 23h is formed in the plate 2Gb extending from the socket depression 2lb to accommodate the adjacent end of the shank of the gooseneck I4. The other end I1 of the shank is knurled. as indicated, and is adapted to be fastened to the door in any suitable or preferred manner. The operation and'advantages of this hinge are similar to those mentioned in regard to the other hinges.

Fig. 7 shows another substantially channel-- shaped sheet metal pillar member I9c slotted, as at 25e, for reception of the gooseneck member I4'. The inclined Wall 41 on one side of the pillar member 89e is perforated and struck inwardly to provide a portion of the socketk |30 for the ball head i6, as indicated at tlc. A plate 26e fastened in place by bolts V3Ic which thread in holes Q6' in the plate 26o has a semi-spherical socket depression 21e therein to retain theball head IE. The shank i1' in this case is machined iiat on opposite sides, as at 50, and is threaded, as indicated at 5l, so that when the shank is slipped through the oblong holes 52 provided therefor in the wall 53 of the door frame and the inner reenforcing member 53 suitably welded thereto, nuts 55 and 56 threaded on the shank and tightened against the door frame from the outside and inside will serve to anchor the gooseneck member lli' securely and make it perfectly rigid with the door. The construction obviously permits in and out adjustment of the shank Il relative to the door frame, as required in centering the door in the opening, and the gooseneck side, as at 25d, to receive the gooseneck member i4. The other side of the channel-shaped pillar member lQd is formed to provide part of the socket i3d for the ball head I6, there being a spheroidal depression 2id formed therein to receive the ball head, and a channel 23d extending from the socket depression to accommodate the adjacent portion of the shankof the gooseneck member lli. The plate 26d arranged to be bolted to the inside of the channel member i911, as indicated at Sid, has a sphero-idal shaped socket depression 21d to retain the ballk head IB in the socket i3d. Here again it is believed to be apparent that the same general advantages are obtained with this construction as with the others previously described, and the operation is similar.

Fig. 9 shows a sheetv metal pillar member E9e of channel-shaped cross-section with a slot 25e in the transverse wall thereof to receive the gooseneck member it and with a hole d8 in the outer wall under the sheet metal sheathing 2G to locate the ball head it, the hole d8 being suitably counterbored or chamfered, as at 2te, to provide a broader annular seat for the ball of the locking plate 33 shown in Figs. 1 and 2. 4'I'he same general advantages are obtained with this construction as with the others, and the operation is similar.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages 'of my invention. The appended claims have been drawn with a view to covering all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

I claim: 1. In metal door frame construction, the com'- bination of a. sheet metal frame member formed `to provide a vertical side wall adjacent the hinged edge of a door and a vertical front\wa.ll

substantially at right angles thereto, the sideV wall having an `elongated opening provided therein to afford working clearance for a concealed door hinge vmember, means integral with the front Wall formed by 'metal displaced outwardly from said wall to provide a ball socket inside said frame member spaced laterally from the side wall and in substantially the same horizontal vplane with said opening, and an angular, ballended, door-supporting' hinge member extending into said frame member through the opening in the side wall thereof and having an attaching portion attached to the door and a transverse end portion carrying` the ball on the end thereof swivelled and retained in said socket, said attaching and end portions being disposed in substantially parallel spaced relation to the front and side walls, respectively, of the frame membei; in the closed position of the door.

2. In metal door frame construction, the combination of a sheet metal frame member formed to provide a vertical side wall adjacent the hinged edge of a door and a vertical front wall substantially at right angles thereto, the side wall having an elongated opening provided therein to aii'ord vworking clearance for a concealed door hinge member, means integral with the front Wall formed by metal displacedy out- I wardly from said wall to provide a ball socket inside saidvframe member spaced laterally from the side will and in substantially the same horizontal plane with said opening and a, clearance channel also inside said frame member extending from said socket to said slot in said side wall, and an angular, ball-ended, doorsupporting hinge .member extending into said frame member through the opening in the side wall thereof and having an attaching portion attached to the door and a transverse end porto provide vertical inner and outer side walls and a connecting front wall substantially at right angles thereto, the outer side wall having an elongated opening provided therein to anord working clearance for a concealed door hinge member, means integral with the inner side wall formed by metal displaced therefrom to provide a ball socket on said frame member, an angular ball-ended, door-supporting hinge member extending into said frame member through said opening in said outer side wall and having an attaching portion attached to the door and a transverse end portion carrying the ball on the end thereof swivelled in said socket, and means for retaining the bail against `displacement from the socket, said attaching and end portions being disposed in substantially parallel spaced relation to the front and outer side walls, respectively, of the frame member in the closed position of the door.-

4. In metal door `frame construction, the combination of a sheet metal frame member formed to provide a vertical side wall adjacent 'the hinged edge of a door and a vertical front wall substantially at right angles thereto, the side wall having an elongated opening provided therein to afford Working clearance for a concealed door hinge member, the front wall having an opening provided therein, means integral with the front wall formed by metal displaced from said wall adjacent the opening to provide a ball socket on said frame member, an angular, ballended, door-supporting hinge member extending from said frame member through the opening in the side wall thereof and having an attaching portion attached to the door and a transverse end portion carrying the ball on the end thereof swivelled in said socket, said attaching and end portions being disposed in substantially parallel spaced relation to the front and side walls, respectively, of the frame member in the closed position of the door, and means engaging the front wall from the outside of the frame member to retain the ball in said socket.

5. In metal door frame construction, the combination of a sheet metal frame member formed to provide angularly related substantially vertical walls, one of said walls being adjacent the hinged edge of a door and having an elongated opening provided therein to afford working clearance for a concealed doorY hinge member, means integral with another of said vertical walls formed by metal displaced therefrom to provide a ball socket on said frame member, and an angular, ball-ended, door-supporting hinge member extending from said frame member through said opening and having an attaching portion attached to the door and a transverse end portion carrying the ball on the end thereof swivelled and retained in said socket, said attaching and end portions being disposed in substantially parallel spaced relation to the walls of said frame member in the closed position of the door.

6. In an automobile construction, the combination of a body provided with a door opening, a door for said opening and a concealed hinge for said door secured to the door and body, the body comprising a sheet metal pillar member and the door comprising a. sheet metal frame member, said members having depressions formed in the sheet metal thereof in horizontal alignment, and said hinge comprising intertting ball and socket members, the ball member being L-shaped to provide on one portion an attaching shank fitting in the depression in one of said pillar and frame members and arranged to be clamped therein, means for clamping said 'shank immovably in said depression, the other portion of said ball member being in transverse relation to the clamped portion and carrying a ball on the extremity thereof adapted to lit in the other ci said depressions, and the socket member registering with said other depression in the other of said pillar and frame members to complete a socket wherein the ball end of the ball member ls received for swivel movement, and means for securing said socket member in place so as to permit swivel movement of the ball and of the ball member in said depression.A

7. In an` automobile construction, the comblnation of a. body provided with a door opening, a door for said opening and a concealed hinge for said door secured to the door and body, the body comprising a sheet metal pillar member and the door comprising a sheet metal frame member, one of said members having a spheroidal depression formed in the sheet metal thereof and the other member having an elongated channel-shaped depression formed in the sheet metal thereof substantially in horizontal alignment with the aforesaid depression, said hinge comprising a ball headed L-shaped member having an elongated attaching shank portion adapted to iit in said channel-shaped depression and a transverse end portion carrying the ball head adapted to iit in the spheroidal depression, and retaining and clamping plates cooperating with the ball end and attaching end of said ball head member to retain the ball head'in the spheroidal depression with freedom for swivel movement and to clamp the attaching end in the channel depression.

8. In combination, a vehicle body portion, a door portion, and hinges for said door each comprising a `ball headed member having an attaching shank for securing the same to one of said body and door portions and a socket for swivel reception of the ball head comprising superimposed socket plate portions, one of which is rigid with the other of said body and door portions, and threaded bolts for securing the two plate portions together to coniine the ball head therebetween, said plate portions being in spaced relation and the bolts being arranged to be tightened to draw the plate portions together more vor less tightly to allow more or less free swivel movement of the ball head therebetween.

9. In combination, a vehicle body portion, a

' door portion, and hinges for said door each comprising a ball headed member having an attaching shank for securing the same to one of said body and door portions and a socket for swivel reception of the ball head comprising superimposedisocket plate portions, one of which is rigid with the other of said body and door portions, threaded bolts for securing the two plate portions together to confine the ball head therebetween, said plate portions being in spaced relation and the bolts being arranged to be tightened to draw the plate portions together more or less tightly to allow more or less free swivel movement of the ball head therebetween, and means for locking the bolts in adjusted position.'

10. In an automobile construction, comprising a body having a door opening and a door for closing said opening, a concealed ball-andsocket hinge comprising a socket member on the body and an angular gooseneck member comprising an attaching shank portion and a transverse end portion terminating in a .ball head in laterally spaced relation to the attaching shank portion swivelled in the socket of .the socket member, and means for adjustably securing the attaching shank portion of said gooseneck member to the door to permit endwise adjustment thereof while preventing rotation so as to keep the ball head in the same horizontal plane with said attaching shank portion, said attaching shank portion being cylindrical and being threaded but being machined ilat atleast on one side thereof, said means comprising an opening provided in the wall of the door conformed to receivevsaid threaded attaching shank portion slidably but non-rotatably so as to permit in and out adjustment of said attaching shank portion relative to the. door, and nuts threaded on said attaching shank portion and tightened against`the inside and outside of the aforesaid wall, whereby to secure the gooseneck member in rigid adjusted relation to the doo 11. A structure as set forth in claim 10, wherein the attaching means includes a reenforcing member secured to the inside of the wall of said door and having a similarly conformed open` ing provided therein registering with the opening in said wall through which the attaching shank portion projects and against the inner side of which the nut on the inside of the door is arranged to be tightened, whereby to provide for increased length of bearing for the attaching shank portion in the door and increased strength and stiness in the wall at the point of attachment of the attacking shank portion to the door.

l2. 1n an automobile construction, comprising a body having a door opening and a door for closing said opening, a concealed ballandsocket hinge comprising a socket member on the body and an angular gooseneck member terminating in a ball head in laterally spaced relation to the attaching shank portion swivelled in the socket of the socket member. and means for adjustably securing the attaching shank portion cf said gooseneck member to the door to permit endwise adjustment. thereof, said attaching shank portion being cylindrical and being threaded, said means comprising an opening provided in the wall of the door to receive said threaded attaching shank portion slidably so as to permit in and out adjustment of said attaching shank portionrelative to the door, and nuts threaded on said attaching shank portion and tightened against the inside and outside of the aforesaid wall, whereby to secure the gooseneck member in rigid adjusted relation to the door. and means holding the angular gooseneck member against turning when in adjusted position to prevent sagging of the door.

18. .A structure as set forth in ,claim l2, where- V in the attaching means includes a reenforcing member secured -to the inside of the wall of said door and having a similar opening provided therein registering with the opening in said wall through which the vattaching shank portion. projects and against the inner side of which the nut on the inside of the door is arranged to be tightened, whereby to provide for increased length of bearing for the attaching shank portion in the door and increased strength and stiffness in the wall at the point of attachment of the attaching shank portion to the door.

1 4. In combination, a vehicle body portion, a door portion, and hinges forsaid door each comprising a'ball headed member having an attaching shank forl securing the same to one oi said door and body portions, and a socket for swivel reception of the ball head comprising sheet metal socket plate portions, one of which is rigid with the other of said door and body portions, and threaded means for securing the plate portions together to coniine the ball head therebetween. the threadedmeans passing through openings provided in said plate portions in radially spaced relation to the socket and saidY plate portions being in spaced relation when confining the ball head therebetween, said bolts being adapted to be tightened to draw the plate portions together more or less tightly` to allow more or less free swivel movement ofthe ball head therebetween,

the plate portions being flexible toward one another in the tightening of the bolts whereby the socket portions thereof are resiliently urged toward one another.

l5. In combination, a vehicle body portion, a

door portion, and hinges for said door each comprising a ball headed member having an attaching shank for securing the same to one of said door and body portions. and a socket for swivel reception of the ball head comprising sheet metal socket plate portions, one oi which is rigid with the other of said door and body portions, threaded means for securing the plate portions together to coniine the ball head therebetween, the threaded means passing through openings provided in said plate portions in. radially spaced relation to the socket and said plate portions being in spaced relation when coniining the ball head therebetween, said bolts being .adapted to'betigntened to draw the pme portions together more or less tightly to allow more or less free swivel movement of the ball head therebetween, the plate portions being flexible toward one another in the tightening of the bolts whereby the socket portions thereof are resiliently urged toward one another, and means for locldng said threaded means in adjusted postg tion.

SETE B. ATWOOD.

CERTIFICATE QF CORRECTION;

may 11, 191m.

Patent No. 2,200,252.

SETH B'. Atrwoon.

It is hereby certified error appears in the printed specification of the abovev numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, se ond column, line 72, cleim 2, strike out the word "V1v1inge;` page 5, first column, line' 56, claim 11, for "attacking" read -attach`1ng; line h2, claim 12, after "member" insert --compri sing attaching shank portion and a transverse end portion, and that thesaid Letters .Patent should be read with this correction therein that the seme may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

signed and sealed this 25rd day of July, A. D. 191m.

Henry Yan Arsdale,

'(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

